Showing posts with label Applique. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Applique. Show all posts

Friday, July 3, 2026

June 2026 Recap!

My Goodness is it July already!!!
Can’t believe it!!

It brings to mind a saying someone told me when my kids were
Little and I was stressed all the time …
“The Days are Long, but the Years are Short - Enjoy them”
It is so very true!

My Appliqué retreat at the Strong House Inn 
 is coming up - so excited - can’t wait!!
There will be ten ladies - and I have surprises for them!
More on that next month!

It’s is my original sample for the retreat,
But I’ve been working on a second version,
To show how color and fabric can impact a quilt.




Using my Japanese Taupes - it gives the quilt
A very calm serine look.


Then to really change it up …
There is a beaded binding surrounding the lighter
Blue center and an appliquéd trellis to the darker blue border.
If you noticed the little blue clip at the bottom - 
It’s to find where I am in the stitching process!!!
All the appliqué pieces and trellis are done in
The prepared edge method.

Future decisions:
How will it be bound: Faced binding or Regular binding
How will it be quilted: Hand or Machine.
Your thoughts??



In June I had the pleasure of presenting my Design Lecture-
“The In Between”
To the Yankee Quilters of Franklin!
A nice group of ladies - sadly no photos!

This is a fairly new lecture - created after
Receiving numerous questions on how I come up with quilt designs, 
how my quilts are marked for quilting and how I quilt my quilts!
It’s been well received by guilds - which makes me happy!!



On the home front the back decks (upper and lower)
Are coming along nicely and almost finished!!


My Arbor garden is so full of color!
The orange lilies popped a few weeks ago!


Mr T. And his Lady Friend hiding in the garden!!

The irises were spectacular this year,
Wished they lasted longer.


Same with the peonies…
Thankfully the heavy rains we had in June came
Just at the right time!



 

During my walks at LaSalette
There were a few interesting bird sightings!
This Heron was stalking is prey in the Rosary Pond…



 

And there was a beautiful family of Canadian Geese!
Six Goslings - it’s been fun watching them grow all month long!


Spent a quick few days on the Cape with Victoria!
We had a nice few relaxing days even though it was WINDY!!
The beaches were beautiful, we put our toes in the ocean!


 


In Provincetown we took a Whale Watching trip!


There were so many whales and dolphins - it was amazing! 
A Baby Whale came right up out of the water to check out the boat!
Then she did a few summersaults and rollovers - just having so much fun!!


Of course we had to have lunch / early dinner!!
At the Iconic Lobster Pot…
It did not disappoint!!


So good to have both children home for Father’s Day Cookout!


More Backyard wildlife!
Just because it makes me smile!!

Mummy Dear and Baby!

Mr. Rose Breasted Grosbeak                           Miss Baltimore Oriole 

Baby Bluebird waiting to be fed by Daddy!!



Working on painting and Iris from my garden…
So much harder without a teacher / tutorial guiding me!!

Here is my inspiration photo   

And my progress…


The flower is as good as my powers of capability will get it!
Just need to finish the stem. 

Enjoy July!

Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!

                               Janet


 

Sunday, April 5, 2026


Wow - it's April already! 
2026 Starting off with SEW much good news!!

Will be a 2027 AQS Calendar Girl!!
YES!!
Will be included in the AQS 2027 Engagement Calendar
To say I’m thrilled would be an understatement!

On January 6th AQS sent out the notification that my “Ships” quilt
Has been juried in the 2026 AQS Paducah Show!!!
That means the Ships will be sailing into both the 
New England and Paducah shows!!
Holy Cow!!!
 It is such and incredible honor to have The Ships juried into both shows.
This quilt took ten years to complete... of course there were
a few times when it sat for a few months and even a few years
while border ideas and quilting ideas percolated, or other projects
bumped it out of the Quilty line up!
I'm looking forward to going to the AQS Hartford show and 
seeing her hang "With the Big Girls"!!!!


In July I will be teaching a four day Applique Retreat!!!
Getting things all prepared! 
Samples, stitch outs, a multi page handout and
a few surprise giveaways!
There will be a review of 4 to 5 different methods of hand applique,
then attendees can choose to use the pattern provided or 
an applique pattern of their choice!!
Four days of relaxing, stitching and making new friends!!
What a Joy!!
For more information or to book your reservation go to:
Hope to see you there!!





In January I attended my favorite relaxing retreat 
on Lake Massapoag in Sharon MA.
Started working on a very special present for hubby.
He was very attached to our beautiful dog ~ Bella
so for Christmas I gave him the center four blocks 
and hopefully by his birthday the quilt will be completed!
 

After printing off a gazillion photos of Bella
on Printed Treasures and using hubby's
old office work shirts - I designed a log cabin style quilt.
Bella was a rescue dog from Georgia, the four center blocks
represented each family members "first meeting"!
My photo with Bella represented the "First" and only time 
she went to the beach - she hated it! 
The sound of the waves scared her!

Also spent time working on my Liberty "Fancy Forrest" quilt
All paper pieced with beautiful Liberty of London fabrics!


Progress is being made! 1/3 of the way done!!!
Again - This one is going to take Forever!!!!

Finishes another shop sample:
The byAnnie Two Little Totes.
Love it in the Tula fabrics!

Not that I needed another project!
Just could not resist starting this under sea quilt …
Mixing cottons, wool and embroidery stitches - FUN!!!!


For the past several month little Stella has been ruling the house!
She is my daughter's Feisty Chihuahua!

Of course this was the year hubby and I agreed to "doggie sit"
and it just so happened to snow a million inches!
and Stella was not having it!


When I finally did get her to go outside - she was a bit overwhelmed!!

  

Knowing I would be bringing her back to New Orleans,
I created a Tulane Doggie Bandana for Stella!
The collar slips right thru the opening- no knots! 
 
The bandanas were a big hit with everyone!
Victoria will have a dozen more at Tulane 
if anyone down there is interested!

Here is a cute pup modeling one of my Doggie Bandanas!
The Pup belonging to one of the Tulane pitchers!

I'll be making Cape Cod & Ocean themed Doggie Bandanas
and they will be available at QuiltCorner Studio for sale!
Here is Mr. Louie Modeling a Starfish Bandana!
He's so Handsome!!


Once back from my March travels 
I had the pleasure of presenting My Quilting Journey lecture for 
Thimble Pleasures Quilt Guild in Upton MA

The Cornerstone Quilters Guild
Was the very first to hear my New Lecture!

&
The Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild had me come in
to teach my Spiffy Bindings workshop to 14 members!
It was a fun filled jam packed day! 

~~~~~~~~

Another cross stitch project was finally finish!
The Kringles
Had to break out my 2.75 Cheater glasses to
work on this one! Had hard time with the
22 count linen!! 

Took some time away from quilting to do a little painting!
My hobby from my hobby!!
Starting to make (and sell!) bookmarks!!

Did you watch the Olympics in February?!
OMG! The opening ceremony with the primary paint
colors - just made my heart sing!!
Loved every minute of the two week event!
Had the Olympic Games playing all day while I quilted!
(thank you Peacock for televising every day - all day!)

Hubby has been a bit bored this winter - so he has started baking!!
Breads, cookies, lemon squares, bagels and pasta!!!
Nothing like a fresh bagel and steaming coffee over looking the gardens!
 


The backyard has had its share of visitors this winter!
Mr Bluebird is of course is my Favorite!
 

Beautiful fluffy Fox
 

and Mr. Buck eating a pumpkin we left out for him!!


After my lecture for the Cornerstone Quilters  hubby and I 
took a nice ride over to Scituate Harbor.
It was clear but chilly and windy!!




Well that's a wrap for the first three months of 2026!
Onto the next few months of fun filled adventures!

Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!

                               Janet